How to use immersive technologies more responsibly

Video games, health, sport, social networks: immersive technologies are synonymous with new consumer experiences, where users enjoy 360° virtual universes or interact with digital content in real environments. Gradually, these technologies are becoming new tools for entertainment, learning, or working: more than 40% of French people have already experienced virtual reality . For users to fully benefit from these immersive innovations, it is essential to consider the associated health risks. In this area, Orange aims to act upstream, from the initial design of content and services.

Extended reality: a health issue

On 16 November, Orange organized a conference that presented the latest conclusions from ANSES and HCSP (High Council for Public Health) and reported on the risks associated with immersive technologies. Aimed at Orange employees across the business (research and development, marketing, HR etc.), the objective was for everyone to adopt the recommendations of the health authorities.

Published in June 2021, the ANSES study identifies two short-term risks of extended reality, a concept that combines virtual reality and augmented reality:

• Cybersickness, a short-term disturbance of the sensory systems. In some cases, it causes symptoms such as dizziness or loss of balance within the first few minutes of using a virtual reality headset, similar to motion sickness.
• The disruption of biological rhythms, such as the circadian rhythm, caused by the blue light effect, which is enhanced by the immersivity and prolonged use of LED screens.

The latest HCSP opinion issued in March 2021 also notes that extended screen use can be detrimental to the health of children and teens. Augmented reality games can affect the ability of young people to distinguish between fiction and reality. Immersion can also cause anxiety or stress, as it reinforces the impact of the content being broadcast.

Sources

• IDATE DigiWord – The Immersive Technologies Market - 2019.
• ANSES : Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'Environnement et du travail
• ANSES : « What are the risks of virtual reality and augmented reality, and what good practices does ANSES recommend?», June 2021.
• HCSP : "Effects of children's and youth's exposure to screens: from excessive use to addiction" - March 2021.

During the conference, the experts stressed that once these risks have been identified, there is an essential need to ensure responsible uses of immersive technologies. This starts with creating positive content, especially in the fields of education, science and culture. This is the aim of projects under development such as “Infinity” or “ScanPyramids”, which enable people to go on virtual trips, for example on board the ISS or visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza, while feeling like they’re really there.
Another project launched on 15 January 2022 is Éternelle Notre-Dame, a unique immersive virtual reality tour of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral. This groundbreaking tehnical feat will enable the public to dive into the heart of the history of the cathedral, from its initial construction in the Middle Ages up to the current restoration site.

Extended reality can also benefit the healthcare sector. The HCSP emphasizes that the use of digital technology can help children with autism cope with the various visual and auditory stimuli in their daily environment, for example the CUBE immersion cabin supported by the Orange Foundation.